Casket-holder



(NO Model.) A. H. DOWNING.

GASKET HOLDER.

No. 448,317. 7 Patented Dec. 23, 1890.

41f :wlllll llllllll UNITED STATES PATENT FFIQE.

ALVAN II. DOlVNING, OF FORT ATKINSON, WISCONSIN.

'CASKET-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,317, dated December 23, 1890. Application filed February 15, 1890. Serial No. 340,5'71- (No model.)

The object of my invention is to provide a device adapted to support a casket for the purpose of trimming it, which device is so constructed as to be capable of adjustment longitudinally and vertically, and is provided with means for gripping the casket and for tilting it so as to be in position for convenient work on it.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end viewof my complete device. Fig. 2 is a side view of the complete device. Fig. 3 is adetail, partly in section, showing a side view of the gripping mechanism at one end of a supportingbar. Fig. 4 is a top or plan View of the device shown in Fig. 3, part being broken awayto show interior construction. Fig. 5 is a view of the inner side of the device shown 111 Fig. 3, the crossbar being in transverse section.

Fig. 6 is a modified form of a portion of the device.

Two posts A A are supported on feet conveniently formed of laterally-extending rods B B, which are preferably provided with casters 0 O for conveniently moving the casket holder about on the floor. The posts A A are connected together adj ustably preferably by a pipe D, secured rigidly at one end to one of the posts A, and a rod E, secured rigidly at one end'to the other post A, the rodE being fitted and sliding freely in the tube D, and being secured adjustably therein by a set-screw F, turning through the pipe against the rod.

The posts A A, transverse rods B B, and tube 1) are satisfactorily constructed of gaspipe secured together by the couplings in ordinary use with gas pipes. These rods, and, in fact, the entire device, may be painted, plated, or gilded for its better appearance, if preferred. Legs G G are inserted and move vertically in the posts A A, which legs are provided with racks G G, which racks are engaged by levei latches II II, pivoted on the posts A A, and held up to their work by springs II II bearing against their rear ends and against the posts A A. Cross-bars I I are pivoted centrally in the tops of the legs G G in such manner as to tilt vertically therein. Segmental braces and guides K K, secured at their ends to the cross-bars I I, pass movably through vertical slots K K in the top of the legs G G, and are secured adj ustably therein by set screws L L, turning through the sides of the legs against the segmental guides. The cross-bars I Iare hollow and are provided with revoluble rods M M, passing through them longitudinally, which rods have their bearings in the caps N N, secured removably over the ends of the crossbars I I. Head-blocks O 0 let into the crossbars I I through longitudinal slots therefor in their upper surfaces travel laterally therein on the rods M M, which pass through the blocks 0 O, and are provided with right and left hand screws P P at their respective ends,

which turn through the head-blocks andv cause them to travel toward and from each other in pairs concurrently. are provided with crank-handles RR, whereby they are rotated. The head-blocks O O are provided with vertically movable and adjustable jaws S S, the upper ends of which are turned inwardly, forming bearings S S, adapted to engage the sides of the supported casket. The jaws S S are preferably formed with beveled sides fitted to dovetailed ways in the head-blocks, whereby they-are guided and held in position, being secured therein adj ustably by set-screws T T, turning through the head-blocks against them.

The cross-bars 1 I may be conveniently co nstructed of gas-pipe, and when so made T- couplings U U may be'used to hinge them to the top of the legs G G, and when this form of coupling is used the head-blocks are preferably formed with shoulders V V, adapted to receive and support the bottom of the casket thereon, or may be made of the same height above the cross-bars as the thickness of the couplings U U, so as to support the bottom of the casket concurrently with the couplings. The slots W W in the top of the cross-bars I I are made somewhat wider than the lateral width of the head-blocks O O op The rods M M posito thereto, so that those head-blocks may tilt a little therein, as shown in Fig. Thus one end of the casket may be let down by loweringa leg G, and the head-blocks O O in the other cross-bar I will tilt sufficiently to avoid any strain of the parts or twisting of the casket in the jaws.

By the construction which permits the rod E to slide in the rod D the device, may be lengthened or shortened to adapt it for use with longer or shorter caskets, and by the construction which permits the head-blocks O O to travel toward and from each other in the bars I I the device is adapted for gripping a wider or narrower casket, and by the vertical adjustments of the legs G G in the posts A A the casket when supported on the device may be raised or lowered at one or both ends for convenient work thereon, and by the tilting of the bars I I in the legs G G the casket may be supported uprightor tilted to either side, as desired, for the convenience of the workman.

In Fig. 6 a modified form of head-block is shown, in which the rod M, on which the head-block 0' travels, is located above the cross-barI and the headblock is guided and limited in its movement by a screw passing through the head-block into a slot \V in the cross-bar I.

Setscrews Y Y, turning through the walls of the posts A A into longitudinal slots therefor in the legs G G, serve as feathers to prevent any rotary motion of the legs G G in the posts A A.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a casket-holder, the combination of two end posts, one at each end, having laterally-supporting feet, each post being formed in two parts, one sliding or telescoping into the other cndwisc vertically, the inner sliding parts of the post being provided with a rack engaged by a latch pivoted on the outer post, a horizontal pipe affixed at one end to one post medially and a smaller horizontal pipe or rod affixed at one end to the other post medially, the smaller pipe or rod sliding or telescoping in the larger one at their otherwise free ends, whereby the two posts are connected adjustably together, laterally-extending cross-bars pivoted centrally one on the top of each post, each cross-barbeing provided with a segmental guide passing movably through a slot therefor in the post and secured adj ustably thereto by a set-screw, and means for seen ring a casket on the crossbars, substantially as described.

In a casket-holder having two central opposite posts, one at each end of the device, the combination, with hollow cross-bars pivoted centrally in the top of the posts, so as to oscillate vertically, of revoluble rods extending through the cross-bars and having bearings therein, the rods being each provided with a crank-handle at one end and being each provided with screw-threads turning to the right and left, respectivelyfirom the middle point outwardly, two head-blocks arranged to travel on each rod concurrently toward and from each other by the revolution of the rod, which head-blooks project above the rods through slots therefor, and jaws adjustable in the head-blocks toward and from the crossbars, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AINAN ll. DOWNING.

Witnesses:

ELTON G. RICE, (f. A. OAswELL. 

